15 In those days I saw people in Yehudah working on the rest day—treading wine, bringing in grain, and loading donkeys, yes, even bringing wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads into Yerushalem on the rest day. I complained to them when they were selling the goods.[ref] 16 Also, people from Tsor (Tyre) were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and were selling it on the rest day to the Israelis, even in Yerushalem. 17 I rebuked the Yehudah business leaders, asking them, “What’s this evil thing that you’re all doing—profaning the rest day by treating it like a regular day? 18 Wasn’t that what your ancestors did—the very reason our God brought all this evil on us and on this city? Now you’re all making God angry with Israel again by profaning the rest day.”

19 So after that, when it started to get dark on Friday evenings, I ordered that the city gates be closed, and not to be opened until after the rest day. I also stationed some of my young men to stand at the gates to ensure that no load could enter on the rest day. 20 Some traders and merchants selling various goods camped outside the city walls once or twice, 21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping there outside the wall? If you do it again, I’ll have you all removed.” After that, they no longer came on the rest days. 22 Then I told the Levites that they should purify themselves and then come to the gates to monitor them on the rest day.

My God, remember me having to deal with this, and show your amazing loyal faithfulness towards me.